Cotecna Zim promotes CBCA programme and digital innovations at high level breakfast meeting

Last week, Cotecna Zimbabwe hosted a strategic breakfast meeting in Harare at the Venue Avondale, gathering key players from the private sector, critical trade bodies such as SFAAZ, and representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The event also welcomed Cotecna leaders from across Southern and Eastern Africa, uniting regional offices to present a strong, coordinated front in support of trade facilitation and the Consignment-Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) program. 

The gathering highlighted Cotecna’s commitment to simplifying global trade through digital innovation, sustainability, and human connection—what we call The Cotecna Way. 

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce Director of Quality Assurance, Mr. Engineer Muchumairi, gave a powerful keynote address, as he clarified that the program’s purpose is not to restrict trade but to facilitate it. He highlighted that the CBCA program ensures that regulated products entering Zimbabwe meet quality and safety standards. It protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and helps streamline the flow of goods across our borders. 

His remarks helped dispel myths around the program and encouraged the private sector to embrace its benefits as a foundation for faster, safer, and more compliant trade. 

A Spotlight on Cotecna’s Digital Solutions 

A central feature of the event was the introduction of Cotecna’s next-generation digital tools, designed to bring greater transparency, speed, and convenience to the certification and inspection process. 

At the heart of Cotecna’s digital ecosystem is the Cotecna Customer Portal—a secure, user-friendly online platform that allows exporters, importers, and trade agents to manage every aspect of their CBCA process in one place. 

Key benefits include: 

• Real-Time Application Tracking – Monitor your application status from submission to certificate issuance.
• Centralized Document Management – Upload, store, and access essential trade documentation anytime, anywhere.
• Direct Communication with Experts – Reach Cotecna inspectors, technical teams, and support agents with just a click.
• Customizable Dashboards – Tailor your experience based on your country, commodity, or workflow needs. 

The portal significantly reduces administrative burden, improves visibility, and enhances communication between stakeholders. It was developed with feedback from clients across Africa and the Middle East, with a particular focus on ease of use and cross-border functionality. 

By digitizing and centralizing the CBCA journey, the Customer Portal helps reduce delays, eliminate paperwork, and support greener, more sustainable trade operations.

Cotecna also showcased OnSight, our remote inspection solution, which enables inspections to be performed virtually cutting down on travel, lowering emissions, and expediting turnaround times. This tool is especially valuable for clients in hard-to-reach areas or with urgent shipment timelines. 

Another exciting development on the horizon is the rollout of e-DOX in Zimbabwe—Cotecna’s certificate authentication platform. This tool enables customs officials and trade partners to verify certificates instantly, enhancing trust and minimizing the risk of counterfeit documentation.

Together, these tools represent a smarter, more connected trade experience and are an extension of Cotecna’s vision to support both governments and businesses through digital transformation. 

The event also marked the coming together of Cotecna teams from some of the most active ports of entry and inspection hubs serving Zimbabwe. This human element reinforced Cotecna’s identity as a people-based company that values personalized service and client relationships.

Key attendees at the event included Cedric Serre, Regional Manager, along with Wesley Aondo, Country Manager for Kenya, and Nita Pieterse, Country Manager for South Africa. Supporting the South African office were Girisha Ramduth, Operations Manager; Natasha Horsley, Technical Officer; and Shivalan Gewanlal, Inspector. From the Kenya team, Abigail Cinema, Sales Manager, was also present. Their presence demonstrated Cotecna’s united regional approach and strong cross-country collaboration in delivering consistent service across all touchpoints. 

The Zimbabwe team was represented by Axel Nze Ayong (Deputy Contract Manager), Emmanuel Mhlathini (Inspection Manager), Estellah Paulser (Sales & Marketing Executive), and Dorcas Chitiyo (Head of Accounts), who hosted and welcomed all guests.

An open panel session allowed participants to raise questions, explore the new tools in detail, and share their experiences with the CBCA program. The feedback gathered will help Cotecna further tailor its services to client needs and continue building efficient, client-centric trade solutions. 

The Cotecna Way: Connecting Innovation with Purpose 

The event underscored Cotecna’s holistic approach to trade facilitation—one that blends technology, trust, and teamwork. Whether through the Customer Portal, OnSight, or e-DOX, our solutions are designed to support sustainable, secure, and seamless trade in Zimbabwe and beyond.

As Cotecna continues to invest in innovation, we remain equally committed to the people behind the process—our clients, partners, and teams—who ensure that trade not only moves, but thrives. 

We thank the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, our clients, and regional colleagues for joining us in this important conversation and look forward to continuing this journey together. 

For more information on the exporting or importing to Zimbabwe, download our free Zimbabwe CBCA Exporter Guide or contact us.

About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.